Effect of Activated Pozzolan with Ca(OH) 2 and nano-SiO2 on Microstructure and Hydration of High-Volume Natural Pozzolan Paste

The main aim of this study is to investigate the effect of activated pozzolan on hydration and microstructure of high-volume natural pozzolan paste. Thermal activation of natural pozzolan with Ca(OH)2 has been applied with nano-silica (NS) as activator at three different temperatures. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), laser particle analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy were employed. In order to analyze the test results, notions of “pre C-S-H” based on XRD and TGA results of activated pozzolan powders has been used. SEM images indicated microstructural improvements of the pastes with activated pozzolans compared to paste with natural pozzolan and natural pozzolan incorporating NS, showing the pore-filling effect of activated pozzolans. The microstructural improvements were proportion to the amount of pre C-S-H formed during the activation of pozzolan

Digital and Dental Malformation and Short Stature in a Patient with Neurological Problems: A Variant of the Oculodentodigital Dysplasia Syndrome or a New Syndrome?

How to cite this article: Shakiba M, Nejad Biglari H, Alaee MR. Digital and Dental Malformation and Short Stature in a Patient with Neurological Problems: A Variant of the Oculodentodigital Dysplasia Syndrome or a New Syndrome?Iran J Child Neurol Autumn 2012; 6(4): 51-54.  Abstract Several syndromes have been recognized with digital abnormality and CNS involvement such as oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD), Mohr syndrome and Joubert syndrome. We report a patient who was referred to us because of the neurological signs suspicious of metabolic disorders. This case was a 22-year-old woman whose problems began 4 years ago with shortening of memory, ataxia, abnormal gait and diplopia which progressed slowly. She consulted many neurologists and was on treatment with the suspicion of vasculitis, but no response was detected. She had severe short stature, hypoplasia of the middle and distal phalanges of the first, second and third fingers, clinodactyly, abnormal toes, abnormal enamel and missing teeth. She had no characteristic faces of ODDD and ophthalmological abnormality. Our patient might be a variant of ODDD or a new syndrome with somatic and neurologic signs.References: Lohmann W, Beitrag zur Kenntnis des reinen Mikrophthalmus. Arch Augenheilkunde.1920;86:136-41.Berliner ML. Unilateral microphthalmia with congenital anterior synechiae and syndactyly. Arch Ophthalm. 1941;26:653-60.Bauer KH. Homoio transplantation von Epidermis bei eineiigen Zwillingen. Beitr Klin Chir. 1927;141:442-7.Pitter J, Svejda J. [The effect of x-rays as a cause of fetal misdevelopment]. Ophthalmologica. 1952 Jun;123(6):386-93.Judisch GF, Martin-Casals A, Hanson JW, Olin WH. Oculodentodigital dysplasia. Four new reports and a literature review. Arch Ophthalmol. 1979 May;97(5):878-84.Reardon W, Harbord MG, Hall-Craggs MA, Kendall B, Brett EM, Baraitser M. Central nervous system malformation in Mohr´s syndrome. J Med Genet. 1989 Oct;26(10):659-63.Ciliz D, Czturk S,Sakman B. Joubert syndrome case presentation. J Neurol Scie. (Turkish) 2010;27:214-8.Loddenkemper T, Grote K, Evers S, Oelerich M, Stogbauer F. Neurological manifestations of the oculodentodigital dysplasia syndrome. J Neurol. 2002 May;249(5):584-95.Aminabadi NA, Pourkazemi M, Oskouei SG, Jamali Z. Dental management of oculodentodigital dysplasia:a case report. J Oral Sci. 2010 Jun;52(2):337-42.

Antioxidant enzyme changes in response to osmotic stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedling

In order to evaluate the effects of osmotic stress on behavioral responses of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), a factorial experiment was carried out under laboratory conditions with three groups of wheat genotypes (tolerant, intermediate and susceptible) and three osmotic stress levels induced by PEG (control, mild and severe). Electrophoretic analyses were performed for three antioxidant enzymes SOD, POX and CAT in shoots of wheat seedlings using 7.5% slab polyacrylamide gels. The activities of GR and APX were determined spectrophotometrically. For SOD, POX and CAT, two, seven and one isozymes were observed, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that osmotic stress has a significant effect on enzymatic activities in wheat seedlings. POX, CAT, GR and APXactivities were increased significantly in the severe stress compared with control condition about 31, 61, 129 and 149 percent, respectively. Whereas, SOD activity increased significantly by 41% in the mild stress compared with control treatment. The highest enzymatic activity was belonged to tolerant group under severe stress conditions for almost all of isozymes and enzymes. Among the antioxidant enzymes, APX activity was increased most drastically in severe stress condition. The extent of damage to the wheat seedlings seems to depend on genotype and severity of osmotic stress

Experimental Study on RC Deep Beams with Non-Prestressed Tendons as Main Reinforcement

In the present study, The main purpose is to focus on the applicability of using non-prestressed tendons as the main reinforcement in concrete beams. Therefore, the main reason for the analytical study is to develop a model that can predict the flexural behavior of RC beams with ordinary reinforcements and/or with non-prestressed tendons (cables). An experimental program, as well as a computational program, was designed to see the behavior of such concrete reinforced beams. To do so, 9 beam models of one concrete mix were cast. The beams were cast in accordance with ACI recommendations and all tests were conducted under the same condition. The beams tested include two types of beams with ordinary steel rebar and with cables (tendons). The beams studied in this research are classified as deep beams (L/h<4); so the effect of shear deformations was considered. In addition, test results were compared with the predicted theoretical values. The theoretical model was able to predict the experimental load-deflection curves almost accurately. Therefore, it was demonstrated that the same concepts of the normal reinforced concrete beams can be applied for reinforced concrete beams using tendons as main reinforcement for both stiffness and strength calculations. Also, the same methodology used in concrete beams with steel rebar is applicable to the ones with non-prestressed tendons. The results showed that using the nominal flexural strength equations of regular reinforced concrete beams can accurately predict the strength of the beams with cables

Material Effects on Tangent Modulus of Steel Square Hollow Section

The kind of mild steel, the Bauschinger effect because of strain reversal and strain ageing are indicated to affect significantly the tangent modulus of elasticity. Stub column specimens made from a material that has been pre-stretched in tension have a significantly lower tangent modulus of elasticity than those specimens made from as-received material; the reduction is caused by the Bauschinger effect and a resulting reduction in tangent modulus and yield strength. The reduction happens despite increases in material yield strength due to strain ageing after application of the tensile stretching. This paper has shown great reductions of tangent modulus of elasticity when specimens are made from material pre-stretched in tension compared with as-received specimens. Strain ageing has a great influence in minimizing the tangent modulus of elasticity reductions resulting from prior tensile prestretching. The initial tensile pre-strain of stress-relief-annealed specimens does not affect the tangent modulus of elasticity. No reduction was observed in the tangent modulus of elasticity of specimens prestrained in tension and stress-relief-annealed. The FE analysis according to the ABAQUS code was applied to simulate the stress-strain curves. The numerical and the experimental curves were reasonably similar to each other

Nitrogen changes in the leaves and accumulation of some minerals in the seeds of red, white and Chitti beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) under water deficit conditions

Abstract Field studies were carried out using split-plot experiments in randomized complete block design with four replications. The objective of the studies was to determine the nitrogen (N) contents in the leaves and seeds in addition with some other mineral nutrients in the seeds of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes grown under contrasting water regimes. Two levels of irrigation (irrigation after 55-60 and 100-110 mm evaporation from class A pan as normal and water stress conditions, respectively) and eight genotypes of beans including Chitti (COS16, KS21486, and MCD4011), red (Akhtar, AND1007, and D81083) and white (WA4502-1 and WA4531-17) were investigated in main-and sub-plots, respectively. Total N content of leaves at two growth stages (pre-flowering and seed filling period) and total contents of seed iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), phosphorous (P), nitrogen and protein were measured at harvesting. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences between genotypes in the studied traits. Irrigation regimes had significant effect on all traits except to seed N and protein contents. The results indicated that white beans had lower leaf N and seed protein contents than red and Chitti beans under both irrigation regimes. Under drought condition, AND1007 and COS16 showed significantly (p≤0.05) higher levels of leaf N (1.88 and 1.83 in vegetative stage and 0.72 and 0.73 in R8 stage, respectively). Also, seed protein in water stressed plants was higher in Chitti beans. Water deficit reduced the mean leaf N by 19% and mean grain yield by 52.7% in all genotypes. Water deficiency significantly reduced seed Fe, Zn, and P contents, but the impact of drought on Fe and P contents was more than on Zn and N contents. Under stress condition, Chitti beans showed the lowest decrease (16.5%) in their seeds iron contents. Genotypes AND1007, COS16, MCD4011 and WA4502-1 were classified as efficient water users based on grain yield efficiency index (GYEI). Overall, genotypes that produce high grain yield under stress conditions and respond well to irrigation are the most desirable because they are able to express their high yield potential in a wide range of water availability

Clinical and Para clinical characteristics of non-classic Phenylketonuria

Abstract Objective Phenylketonuria (PKU) is one of the most common inherited metabolic diseases, classified as classic and non-classic forms.2% of children with PKU develop a severe and progressive neurologic disease called non classic (malignant) PKU. We aimed to demonstrate the clinical features and laboratory findings and the diagnostic and therapeutic properties of non-classic PKU patients referred to a tertiary level referral center of children in Tehran. Material and Method &nbsp;In this study, we evaluate background information such as gender and age, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and response rates to conventional treatment of patients with non-classic PKU who referred to Mofid Children's' Hospital through neonatal screening. &nbsp; Result Twenty patients with diagnosis of non-classic PKU were included. The mean age of them was 6.00 ± 2.81 years ranging from 2 to 12 years, and 45.0% were male. In patients with late diagnosis, the most common presentations were motor developmental delay (15.0%), skin and cutaneous manifestations (15.0%), seizure (5.0%), and restlessness (5.0%). An overall response to treatment was 85.0%. Factors that predict good response to treatment were female gender, higher neopterin level, and lower age at diagnosis and management. Conclusion In conclusion, about half of patients with non-classic PKU remain asymptomatic, which is due to early diagnosis via neonatal screening. Also, higher age at diagnosis and treatment, besides low neopterin levels, may be useful as prognostic factors. &nbsp

The effects of personality traits and psychological well-being among Iranian adolescent migrants in Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between personality traits and psychological well-being among Iranian adolescent migrants in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The participants were 300 high schools adolescents who comprise(143 males,and 157 females)in the age range of 13 to be 16 years old. The instrument used to measurement personality traits was Five Factor Inventory (FFI-NEO) Iranian version by Costa and McCrae, (1992)and psychological well-being Scale by Ryff, and keys,(1995).The results from the study showed that there was negative statistical significant relationship between neuroticism trait and adolescent's psychological well-being, while extroversion and agreeableness traits have positive correlation with psychological well-being. However, the results also indicated that openness to experience and conscientiousness traits do not have statistical significance relationships with psychological well-being

Lysosomal Storage Disease in Iran (Report of Molecular Study)

How to Cite this Article: Houshmand M, Tonekaboni SH, Karimzadeh P, Aryani O, AshrafiMR, Salehpour Sh, Badv Sh, Shakiba M, Alaee MR, Farshid Sh. Lysosomal Storage Disease inIran. (Report of Molecular Study). Iran J Child Neurol Autumn 2012; 6:4 (suppl. 1): 22. Pls see PDF

Effect of Smoking Cessation on Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction after Acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND: Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) is the leading cause of global mortality. Moreover, Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) is the most important predictor of post-AMI mortality. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between smoking cessation and LVEF following one year from the STEMI.CASE REPORT: The present study was a part of the Kermanshah STEMI Registry and included 825 smokers admitted to Imam Ali Hospital, Kermanshah, Iran, with AMI during a 2-year study period. Data collection was performed using the standardized case report form by the European Observational Registry Program (EORP). Moreover, multiple logistic regression was used to compare LVEF between the patients who had quit smoking post-AMI and those who were still smokers after one year. Also, one-to-one Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was used to reduce the assessment error and selection bias, increase the result accuracy, and minimize the effects of confounders on the LVEF-smoking relationship.Results: Following one year after AMI, 219 (26.55%) patients had quit smoking, while 606 (73.45%) still smoked. Using the PSM, a total of 168 ex-smokers were matched to 168 current smokers. Moreover, it was shown that LVEF was higher in current smokers compared to ex-smokers. However, the difference was not significant. Also, multiple logistic regression showed that the Odds Ratio (OR) of LVEF reduction was insignificantly higher in ex-smokers (OR=1.13; 95% CI: 0.98-1.29) compared to current smokers. Multivariate regression analysis found similar results even after the application of PSM (OR 1.02; 95% CI: 0.82-1.22).CONCLUSIONS: Given the low rate of smoking cessation after MI, physicians are recommended to ask about the smoking status of MI patients at each office visit or re-admission and strongly recommend quitting smoking